After ten years of rifle hunting with no real success I'd almost given up on hunting and was deciding to cleave to my only other outlet of recreation, fishing. But before I could surrender my camo, Matt Wilson encouraged me to consider bow hunting. My initial reaction was a feeling of inadequacy because I'd only had a bow in my hands once when a neighbor was practicing and he allowed me to shoot an arrow. And that was 15 years ago!

With a little reluctance but high hopes of reviving my love for the hunt, I surrendered to the mentoring of Matt and his dad Rick. The 2003-04 season was my first season of waiting for a deer with a bow across my lap. I had an exciting year of seeing great bucks and several nice does move all around my stand, but only one doe ever made it within my shooting range, and I missed her. "Oh well, maybe next year."

On the first day of the ‘04 season I was in a ground blind when I watched a nice buck roam the field to my far left, about 200 yards. He was sporting a nice crown but never made it to my blind. I left the woods feeling excited about the next hunt. On Monday September 20th I had no idea what the evening would hold. Being the pastor of a growing church of about 300, my wife and I like to relax on Mondays so I planned to simply kick back and relax the entire evening. My wife, knowing my intense desire to bag my first bow kill, suggested that I go hunting, but I reasoned that the season is still early and there'll be plenty of time. About an hour later the phone rang, it was Rick Wilson inviting me to hunt with him and Matt. I couldn't resist.

On my way to the hunt I had time to drop by the church to answer a few phone calls and do a few ministry odds and ends. On my way out of the church, I stepped into the dark sanctuary, removed my hat, knelt at the altar and prayed: "Lord, I know there's many more important things for me to pray about, and I know this request sounds very selfish, but Your Word says that if I delight myself in You, then You'll give me the desires of my heart. I sure would be blessed if You allow me to bag a deer this evening."

Within an hour of that prayer I was sitting in a tree stand reading a book about prayer and enjoying the beauties of God’s creation. At about 6:30pm I prayed: "Lord, even if I don't see a single deer, I'm sure enjoying Your creation and this book." The time was nearing 7:00pm when I prayed: "Lord, I sure would like to feed some hungry people. Will you lead a deer to me? As a matter of fact Lord, I don't even have to be the one to get it.... just let one of us get one this evening." I didn't even get my closing "In Jesus' Name, Amen" on the prayer when I saw four brown legs standing in the trees about 60 yards in front of me.

My face immediately broke into a smile and I slowly stood up in my stand and positioned myself for the kill. Two does nibbled the strip of planted clover while walking in my direction and I prayed: "Lord, help me pull this arrow back without making a sound." The larger of the two was walking at a steady pace and I could tell that she was not going to stop and give me a shot as she headed along a path that led her to my right. Within seconds I would not have a shot. So I drew back, held my breath, aimed my first pin where she would be heading, and as soon as I saw her step into the sight I released. "Thunk!" (a sound I'll never forget) The arrow penetrated into her right side, she drooped a little then ran into the thick woods while my arrow seemed to be waving "Good-bye"! My excitement turned to regret as I pondered the possibilty of wounding a deer that I wouldn't be able to recover.

I didn't know it but Rick was watching the whole ordeal from his treestand and cautioned me over our radios to stay in my stand and give her some time. Over the next 15 minutes he and Matt encouraged me over the radio telling me not to beat myself up too much. Rick then led us in prayer over the air as we waited.

After prayer, Rick walked along a path on the far side of the woods that she entered to push her back into my direction in the event that she was not down. I waited with another arrow ready for flight. About 30 minutes passed when I saw Rick step out of the woods with a look on his face that suggested we were in store for some tracking…by now with flashlights. I climbed down out of the tree and Rick looked at me and said: "Let's go get your deer, she's lying about 50 yards into the woods. She went down just a few seconds after you hit her." I smiled so big I think my cheeks touched on the back of my head!

Rick said he wanted to wait until I got down out of the stand before he said anything so I wouldn't fall out of the tree from joy! Smart man! The evening concluded with pats on the back, laughter, and prayer with Matt and Rick as we stood over the deer, thanking the Lord for the great evening, my first bow kill, and the hungry people who will benefit from that doe.

I thank God for the ministry of FHFH. It truly is a ministry of integrity, Christ-centeredness, and fulfilling the words of Jesus in Matthew 25.

John Miller recently joined the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry Board of Directors and pastors Faith Christian Fellowship in Williamsport, MD.